Top Universities for Masters Study in Switzerland - 2025

If you are thinking of studying a Masters in Switzerland, there are several options to choose when it comes to the kind of university Universities in Switzerland focus on research, applied sciences and teacher education, by hosting Masters courses in three different categories of institutions.

The main categories of Swiss higher education institutions are:

Universities (UNIs) which include two federal institutes and 10 cantonal universities. They offer Masters programmes in a research-led capacity covering Science, Engineering, Business, and Economics.
Universities of Applied Sciences and Arts (UASAs) are more professionally oriented, though their programmes still incorporate the latest academic insights and specialist knowledge. Some programmes, like Landscape Architecture and some Health Sciences, are only available at these universities.
Universities of Teacher Education (UTEs) offer courses in Teaching for different education levels including Special Needs Education. Even though most classes at UTEs are given in one of the four official languages, they also offer classes in English. Some UTEs even offer special programmes for international students.

Top 10 Universities in Switzerland for a Masters

Swiss universities perform well on global ranking tables with several of them featuring in the top 200 of all three main rankings.

The table below lists the 10 best universities in Switzerland for Masters study according to global rankings. This information is based on the latest rankings tables, researched and published by Times Higher Education, QS and the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). It is important to note that each ranking system has their own methodology, and different factors affect the final result for a particular university.

For more information have a look at our guide on using international rankings as a postgraduate.

Top 10 Swiss Universities in 2025
University	THE 2025	QS 2025	ARWU 2024
ETH Zurich	11	7	21
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne	32	26	55
University of Bern	=104	161	101-150
University of Basel	126	131	95
University of Lausanne	=134	=224	101-150
University of Geneva	171	=155	58
Universita della Svizzera italiana	301-350	=405	601-700
University of St Gallen	351-400	-	-
University of Fribourg	401-500	=539	501-600
University of Neuchatel	501-600	-	-
Information in this table is based on the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings, QS World University Rankings and Academic Ranking of World Universities. Visit their websites for more information.

Even though Switzerland has only 12 research-led universities, the country continues to prove that they are focused on academic excellence. As a full member of the EU’s research and education programmes, Switzerland makes for an attractive study environment for international students.

Search for a Masters in Switzerland

You can browse and compare a list of available Masters degrees in Switzerland on the FindAMasters website.

Taru Medha

Taru joined FindAMasters as a Content Writer in 2022. She creates well-researched, thorough content for our guides and blogs, as well as short video content for our social profiles. She has a Bachelors degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Bennett University in India and completed a Masters degree in Global Journalism from the University of Sheffield in 2021, giving her personal experience with postgraduate study as an international student.

Masters Study in Switzerland – 2025

Switzerland

Detailed guides to Masters study in Switzerland. Our guides have information on universities, courses, funding, student visas and life during a Masters course in Switzerland